free a last. [ cheers ] >> the world's best known political prisoner released. but what does freedom really mean? first blast of real winter weather. the snowstorm that caught many by surprise. busted. a big corruptn case making headlines. wait until you hear where they found the money. and back to basics, from threat shops to grocery stores, and back to basics, from threat shops to grocery stores, the new american way to shop. captions paid for by nbc-universal television

good evening. for two decades, she has led an uphill fight for democracy against one of the world's mt oppressive regimes, earning her a nobel peace prize but costing her years of her personal freedom. but toy in myanmar, which some still call burma, aung san suu kyi political prisoner and pro-democracy her was released from sen years of house arrest. it trigger eed spontaneous celebrations and here in the streets, as well. ian williams reports. >> reporter: there was no announcement, just the sudden removal of barricades blocking her road. and then thousands swaed to greet aung san suu kyi at the gate of the house that's been her prison for 15 of the last 21 years. they sang -- ♪ >> reporter: they cheered. [ cheers ] >> reporter: and suu kyi told them "we have a lot to do." john irvine was amongst those

capturing the moment. >> repter: amidst the euphoria i asked her how she was. she could barely hear herself think. >> reporter: her latest house arrest, seven years of near tol isolation, has been marked by periods of ill health. though tonight the 65-year-old pro-democracy leader was lifted by the excitement. her jailers, the generals who ruled myanmar for half a century, recently held elections widely dismissed as sham. her release may be aimed at i did reflecting that criticism. she is a symbol of hope in myanmar. her release hailed around the world where millions have been moved by her soft spoken and dignified opposition to dictatorship. she's often care kpompared toga mandela. she was released in 2002 and rearrested after attracted crowds. there are fears she will aga face restrictions. >> we hope that she hasn't been released from the prison of her

house into effectively a larger prison into the country. >> reporter: it been a hard personal struggle. her husband, a british academic, died of cancer in 1999 while she was in detention. the generals didn't low him to visit her during his illness. soon after that, nbc's hoda kotbe arranged a visit with her in detention. >> you sacrificed a lot of things. has it been worth the fight? >> oh, yes. in fact, i don't look upon it as a sacrifice, it's a choice. if you choose to do something, then you shouldn't say it's a sacrifice because nody forced you to do it. >> reporter: though she is now free from house arrest, it remains to be seen just how much freedom of movemen and speech the ruling generals will now give her. ian williams, nbc news, bangkok. president obama is reacting to the release of aung san suu kyi tonight. he issued a statement from japan where he is wrapping up his

ten-day asian trip with a second of back-to-ba summit meetings. nbc's lee can is traveling with the president and joins us from yokohama. lee? >> reporter: well, lester, that statement came relatively quickli. in short, he calls her a hero of mine and a source of inspiration to all those who work for basic human rights in burma and around the world. the united states welcomes her release but said that we demand all political prisoners be released, not just one. that statement cominga t as the president wraps up his trip to asia, calling it a success. ♪ >> reporter: from an economic perspective, the president says what happens in asia doesn't stay in asia. and he wants american companies to surf the ripple effects back home. >> in today's interconnected world, what happens in japan or china or indonesia also has a direct effect on the lives and fortunes of the american people. that's why i came here.

>> reporter: it's his last stop on a four-nation trip. meeting with a group of chief executives today, mr. obama outlined again just why americans should care. seven of america 15 t trading partners are here, and 60% of the goods the u.s. already exports end up in the region. economies the president described as growing far faster than anywhe else in the world. >> i make no apologies for doing whatever i can to bring though jobs and industries to america. >> reporter: it's the same message he echoed on virtually every stop, from india to indonesia to south korea, where his advisers point out that at the g20 sumt he held face-to-face meetings with countries representing 85% of the world's gdp. but you after his failure to secure a u.s.-korea free trade reement, questions surfaced about whether the u.s., indeed the president himself, had lost influence on the world stage. and yet mr. obama insists nothing had changed. >> it wasn't any easier to talk about currency when i'd just

been elected and my poll numbers were at 65% than it is now. it was hard then, and it's hard now. >> reporter: one more day of meetings ahead including a sideline visit with russia's president. rounding o his ten-day foreign trip, the longest a predent has ever taken. after the president makes his way home tomorrow and he's already focused on what happens when he gets there, namely those meetings with congressional leaders at the end of the week where they'll talk about the tax cuts, the deficit, and a host of other things where once again th economy will be center stage. >> lee cowan traveling with the president, thank you. it's brings us to capitol hill where the potential showdown with congress awaits the prident's return home. here's more. >> reporter: even while still aroadway, the presidentoday made an overture to conservatives back home, backing their call to ban earmarks, special projects that many consider wastefu pork. >> we can't afford bridges to nowhere likehe one that was planned a few years back in alaska. >> reporter: a fight looms with

republicans over renewing sh-era tax cuts. >> when we get tax cuts, we want to give tax cuts to middle-class families. >> reporter: after weeks spent bashing the gop for insisting the cuts be extended to the wealthy, some signal the president is open to that but on a temporary basis. >> it's clear who the winners are -- >> reporter: republicans rejected the openings. >> i think extending the current tax rates and making them rmanent will reduce the uncertainty in americ >> reporter: the new stance has also brought ridicule from the left who accused the president of caving to republin demands. >> what we need from president obama now you is strength, not weakness. >> reporter: the upshot, even with democrats still in control for now, the president has ttle room to maneuver. >> he's trying to play the spa in the middle. there's nobody in the middle, and it's going to be very hard for him. >> reporter: and there are more flashpoints on the agenda. another extention of unemployment benefits and what to do about the military's don't

ask, don't tell polici. but you after the election upheaval -- >> republicans have won control of the house of representatives. >> reporter: that could be put off until january. >> the republicans want to wait until next year when they're wly emboldened. they have the house and can get what they want done. >> reporter: president obama will sit down with congressional leaders for dinner in thehite houseesidence next thursday. at the table, john boehner, the man likely to lead the house as the next speaker. >> he goes to the negotiations with barack obama, with the support of the american people, and with alear understanding of what lies ahead. i don't lock for him to be in a terribly compromising mood. >> reporter: and lester, tonight house democrats appear to have cleared up a logjam in their own house leadership. they've essentially created a position for the number three representative, jim clyburn, the highest ranking african-american in congressional history. there was a log jam there, he was thrown into a battle with steny hoyer, currently the number two. they've essentially created a position for him. they're going to call it assistant leader, and he'll stay on anumber througee.

>> thanks. presintial adviser david axelrod and republican senator john mccain will be david gregory's guests on tomorrow's "meet the press." one other political headline night in chicago, rahm emanuel who recently quit his job as white house chief of staff made it official today. hes a candidate for mayor of that city. the election is in february. the largest november snowfall in two decades moved through minnesota today, dumping nely a foot o snow in parts of the twin cities and catching a lot of people by surprise. we get more tonight on the first big snowsto of the season from minneapol the weather channel in minneapolis. >> reporter: this storm is the first of the season. it also came somewhat unexpectedli. yesterday temperatures here were in t 60s. today there's a foot of snow. taking the midwest from fall to winter overnight. the snowstorm took many residents by surprise.

>> when they said snow, they didn't say blizzard. >> very wet, windy. >> slippery. >> reporter: after an unusually warm fall with record-breaking october temperatures, and in november daytime highs in the 60s, nine inches of snow fell in northwest minneapolis and along the minnesota-iowa border, up to 14 inches of snow. >> this is not actually a very strong storm, but it has been very persistent. and by virtue of that fact, we've gotten an awful lot of snow. >> reporter: at the minneapolis-st. paul airport, passengers had flights canceled and delays of two hours as airport workers tried to keep the runways clear. only two of the airport's four runways were operational. >> i'll be frustrated tomorrow if i'm still here and i can't get out. >> hopefully we'll get on a flight today and we'll be able to get home. >> repter: the heav wet snow created slippery conditions on the roads, slowing traffic to a crawl. >> the roads were very slick, sloppy, heavy sno causing many vehicles to lose control and go off the road. >> reporter: the snow weighed

heavily on power lines, too. 65,000 custors lost power in the twin cities area. people camping out overnight in minneapolis to raise money for the homelessraved the elements for their cause. >> kids have had great fun, they've been building snowmen, playing this the snow, having snowball fights. wh you do when you get the first snow. >> reporter: ll, the minnesota state patrol says this storm sent nearly 300 cars off the road and caused 40 crashes. one reminder, lester, that winter is here and so is dangerous winter driving. >> all right, janelle, thank you. fr cold weather to cold cash, in our "backo basics" series about americans doing more with less, a renewed trend in the way americans shop these days. as nbc's newest correspondent lily aluciano reports, thrift is back in style. >> reporter: la toya mathews is searching for bargains. she used to to maternity shops. now you'll find her here at the goodwill store. >> maternity jeans and

everything i can g from here for about , $10 as opposed to $40, $50. i'm not going to be pregnant forever. >> reporter: marielle discovered goodwill this year. >> instead of buying hard cover books for $30, we bought them for $4.99, $5.99. >> reporter: in this economy, more shoppers are going to thrift stores. they're opening 100 new stores with a brand new face for their changing clientele. >> we had a customer who recently said, you know, this i a great store. i stopped here every time on my way to nordstrom's and every time i'm on my way back. >> reporter: for retailers are introducing old ways to save money. with the holidays around the corner, toys 'r' us offers a lay-away plan for big ticket items for the second year to keep parents from say, sorry, kids, no presents this year.

they're not the only ones. kmart, sears, best buy, and tx macs are also if the game. >> the move toward layaway is the ability to save money. no oneeels they have the same amount of buying power as they did in the past. >> reporter: at the grocery store, consumers are turning to less expensive store brand products, now ming up 22% of grocery sales to save more. chicago-based aldi supermarket, where 95% of the products are store brand, is becoming so popular, it is oning 100 new stores around the country this year. >> our stores if the upper income demographic are some of our best performing stores year on year. >> i must be saving $100 every time i come in. >> reporter: whether for toys, clothes, or food, more americans are watching their spending by going back to basics. nbc news, secaucus, new jersey. still ahead as "nightly news" continues, this saturday, high drama at a suburban home.

an arrest and charges of rruption. and wait until you hear where tens of thousands of dollars may have been hidden and later, a car giveaway. this one's not on oprah, but for folks in one town, it's even better. it is tonight's "making a difference." ♪ [ deb ] people don't just come to ge capital for money. they come to us for help. at ge capital, we've been financing taylor guitars for over eight years, helping them build a strong dealer network. bringing music to people... i like that. ♪ ♪ [ bob ] i didn't know you could play. i didn't either. ♪ i di[scraping]r. [piano keys banging] [scraping] [horns honking] with deposits in your engine, it can feel like something's holding your car back. let me guess, 16. [laughing] yeeah.

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bribesnd kickbacks. he says he's innocent and the facts the prove it. what's getting attention is a phone call between the man and his wife about where to hide the allege lead dirty money. >> reporter: jack johnson, his coat covering his handcuffs, had ld a top political office in prince george's county, maryland, for eight years. his wife, leslie, an elected county councilwoman, using her jacket to hide her face. that's hardly all t fbi accuses these two of covering up. the affidavit describes agents arrived at their house friday with search warrantshile leslie johnson called her husband on a phone that investigators were secretly monitoring. the fbi says jack johnson told her to go to my drawer and you will see a check that a developer not named here wrote to me. the febs believe it was for $100,000. he said "tear up the check." his wife asked if she should put it down the toilet. his response, "yes, flush that."

he then told her to put the cash in her underwear. "put it in your bra and walk out or something." she replied, "i have it in my bra." agents soon found the cash right where she it was, all $79,600, in her bra. the fbi says this is part of a corruption case sparked in 2006 over developers giving gifts to local officials in return for favors and federal taxpayer dollars. >> we are committed to putting an end to public officials who dishonor their office by accepting bribes in exchange for favorable treatment. >> reporter: jack johnson waved and talked to reporters after he was released from jail on house arrest. >> i'm innocent of these charges. and i -- i can't wait for the facts to come out. when they come out, i am absolutely convinced that i'm going to be -- we will be vindicated. >> reporter: johnson had three weeks left in his term. now he and wife a accused of

tampering with andestroying evidence in an embarrassing federal probe that continues to run deep. nbc news. wle bernard madoff serves a 150-year prison term, some of his personal items were auctioned off today here in new york, including a 10.5-carat diamond ring that went for $550,000. proceeds from the auction will go to the victims, but it's a drop in the bucket. madoff's ponzi scheme bilked investors out of billions. up next here tonight, why there's so much excitement in one of america's most spectacular stadiums. meant, i couldn't breathe right. i couldn't sleep right. next day it took forev to get going. nighafter night, i sat up. sprayed up. took a shower... or took a pill. then i tried drug-free breathe riht advanced. and instantly, i breathed better! i slept better. it felt...better. thank you, breathe right! [ male announcer ] breathe better, sleep better, feel better. now try new breathe right advanced for free...

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instead, it's for boxing and match-up that's about more than jabs, hooks, and upper cuts. here's nbc's ron allen. manny pacquiao! >> reporter: he's been called the greatest boxer ever. that's right, ever. that's the huge around manny "pack man" pacquiao. 5'6", less than 150 unds. when he squares off against antonio margarito in dallas, he's expected to win his eighth championship belt. ea victory over bigger and bigger opponents. a feat no one else has come close to achieving. >> pacquiao is a force of nature. he so strong, hits so hard, he is so fast and athletic. >> reporter: but the greatest ever? >> yes. it is possible that pacquiao is the eatest fighter who ever lived. >> reporter: impossible because his rise was soimprobable. his story begins in the slums of the philippines. pacquiao left home at 14,

determined to be fighter, more out necessity than to chase a dream. >> we were so poor and didn't have money to buy food. and that's why i decided to focus on boxing and to help my mom. >> ten -- >> reporter: now he's perhaps his country's most famous personment ledperso person. legend has it, everyone stops to watch his fights on tv. churches cancel mass, even criminals stop for it. crime drops. "forbes" magazine lists him as the eighth richest athlete in the world, ahead of cycling's lance armstrong and basketball's shaquille o'neal. popularity he's parlayed in another brutal arena, politics. he's now congressman pacman, last spring winning a landslid election. >> my dream is t help people struggling in poverty. i want to help people. >> reporter: tonightn one of america's most spectacular football arenas, they're expecting one of the largest crowds ever to watch a boxing match indoors. once again, pacquiao takes on a

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here's nbc' claire duffy. >> reporter: when it comes to jokes about used car salesmen, terry franz had heard them all. >> got a great reputation. >> reporter: so 14 years ago, he got out of the game. not the cars, just the sales. franz is something of a fixture around olathea, kansas, where he's known as the car santa. any resemblance to the actual santa is purely intentional. >> like eir working on the carburetor. >> reporter: over the years, franz and an ever-expanding group of dedicated volunteers ha fixed up and given away hundreds of donated cars to people in need. >> thank youery much. >> if you're down and out in kansas city, i can show you where somebody will house you, somebody will feed you, they'll help you find a job. but we found that if we give them that car,ll of a sudden they go out and get all of those things for themselves. >> reporter: out here it's easy to how a car is anything but a luxury. with almost no public transportation options, it's a

feline. franz makes it his business. on his web site, in a bar that serves as his office, even on a friend's radio slow -- >> welcome to the show, big boy. >> thank you, slacker. >> reporter: to fulfill as many of the 20,000 requests he receives every year as he can. my gosh, thank you, thank you, thank you! >> reporter: one of those requests came from johnny starks. her father, jesse, one of a growing number of veters needing help with transportation. jesse starks served with the marines in vietnam. with no car, he was total dependent on his children for rides, but no more. >> all yours. >> reporter: and for corporal todd nicely, a quadruple amputee after iraq and afghanistan -- >> give me that. you're an owner. >> reporter: the gift of a van with a wheelchair lift mns independence. >> any little thing that i can do by myself, i enjoy doing it. >> you can see the relief on their face when they've got that car and say, hey, now i can go to the store. nobody's winning the lottery

with me. no gold bars. just an old car we fix up. >> reporter: when it's from the car santa, it's a lot more than that. clare duffy, nbc news, kansas. that's "nbc nightly news" for is saturday. i'm lester holt reporting from new york. i'll see you tomorrow on "today" and then back here tomorrow evening. good night. -- captions by vitac -- www.vitac.com